Martin Luther triggered the Reformation on Oct. 31, 1517, with the posting of his 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany. Now, 500 years later, that momentous event that ignited the West continues to have a great effect on our lives and our world, stretching from the church and beyond.
In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis [1] has produced a series of videos highlighting how the Reformation surrounds us today through religion, politics and society.
In “500: The Impact of the Reformation Today,” some of the world’s leading Reformation and Luther scholars share their expertise on the modern-day effects of the Reformation.
“Whether intended or not, the consequences of the 16th century Reformation were far-reaching and long-lived,” said Dr. Erik Herrmann, director of the Seminary’s Center for Reformation Research [2] and the documentary’s executive producer. “We often don’t realize how profoundly the actions of a lone monk shaped the Western world in its religious, social and political makeup. But here we are, 500 years later, in a world that could only exist because of those tumultuous times.”
The documentary is available in a variety of versions.
- A multipart topical series, at reformation500.csl.edu [2]
- A one-hour version, at reformation500.csl.edu [2]
- A five-part miniseries with a Bible study (available soon at reformation500.csl.edu [2])
- A feature-length version that recently was selected as one of 15 films by local artists to be shown at the 17th annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. The documentary will be shown at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130. Tickets are $13 each or $10 for students with a valid and current photo ID. Advance tickets are on sale at the Tivoli Theatre box office from 4-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, or online at landmarktheatres.com/st-louis/tivoli-theatre [3].
This thought-provoking documentary delves beyond the history of the Reformation, showing how its events and leaders left lasting effects on almost every aspect of modern-day life.
Scholars who appear in documentary include:
- Dr. Martin Marty, Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago - Dr. Oswald Bayer, Professor Emeritus
University of Tübingen - Father Jared Wicks, Josephinum Scholar-in-Residence
Pontifical College - Dr. Ronald Rittgers, Professor of History and Theology
Valparaiso University - Dr. Mary Jane Haemig, Professor of Church History
Luther Seminary - Dr. Timothy Wengert, Professor Emeritus
Lutheran Theological Seminary - Dr. Stephen Burnett, Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, President Emeritus
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Southeastern District
The documentary also includes renowned Concordia Seminary scholars including Herrmann [4] and President Dr. Dale A. Meyer [5], Dr. Charles Arand [6], Dr. Paul Robinson [7], Dr. William Schumacher [8] and Dr. Joel Biermann [9]; and Professors Emeriti Dr. Robert Kolb [10], Dr. Robert Rosin [11] and Dr. James Brauer [12].
Four years in the making, portions of the documentary were shot on location throughout Germany where the Reformation events occurred. The documentary is hosted by St. Louis Fox News Anchor Sandy Miller.
Find a trailer, poster and other Reformation resources at reformation500.csl.edu [2].
About Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) [13]. To learn more, visit www.csl.edu [1].